GETTING TO KNOW YOU – Beauty (Marie Oldenbourg) and The Beast (Josh Coleman) share their stories in the Harwich Junior Theatre production.

She’s a soft-spoken beauty. He’s a hairy beast.

Together they’re magic in the Harwich Junior Theatre’s enchanting production of the French fairytale, Beauty and The Beast.

In this adaptation by Stephen Russell, humor, drama, and romance are blended into a delightful spell that’s cast upon the audience by an amazing troupe of actors.

Marie Oldenbourg sparkles as Beauty, the kind and gentle merchant’s daughter whose modest wish for a single rose leads to dire consequences when her father, delightfully played by David C. Wallace, crosses paths with The Beast (Josh Coleman).

Coleman is brilliant as the tortured Beast who imprisons Beauty in an attempt to win her love, conveying a barely controlled rage even as he discusses breakfast choices with his servant Martin, hilariously portrayed by Matt Glick.

The comedic aspects of the show are well timed and delivered. Erica Morris and Lily Mae Harrington are hysterical as Beauty’s bickering sisters Margaret and Eugenia, both the diametric opposite of Beauty’s considerate nature.

Even the status of an insurance claim elicits giggles from the audience via amusing exchanges regarding the agents’ names (enough said, except that they’re very well played by Ed Coppola and Nick Romano).

The darker side of the tale is highlighted by Shadows, long lost children who inhabit the forest and assist the Beast, showing him “veils,” projections of the outside world. The Shadows tend to tune into sad images until the day the Beast demands they show him beauty and Beauty herself appears on the veil.

The costumes and sets are spectacular, especially the gardens outside the Beast’s home where flowers, stone columns and walkways extend deep into the stage. Lighting, sound and music put the perfect final touches on this wonderfully entertaining production.

Beauty and The Beast runs through Aug. 6 at Harwich Junior Theatre, with performances Monday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., with Friday and Sunday matinees at 4 p.m. For tickets ($20; $15 for under-21s), call 508-432-2002 or go to www.hjtcapecod.org.